Shelburne News - 6-6-24

celebrates summer on June 22.

Page 8

candidates to compete for House

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

Two familiar faces in Shelburne have thrown their hats into the ring for a seat in the Statehouse next year.

Mike Ashooh and Shawn Sweeney, both Democrats, are vying for the House seat being vacated by Rep. Jessica Brumsted, who announced in an April letter to The Shelburne News that she would not seek reelection after serving eight years representing Chittenden-7, which includes Shelburne and St. George.

Sweeney has spent his days recently hyper-focused on the issues facing Shelburne, as he has been a member of the town’s

Shelburne works toward agreement with developer

See CANDIDATES on page 3 LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

The Shelburne Selectboard agreed last week to pump the brakes on making a decision about a development regarding a 175-acre property owned by O’Brien Brothers.

Instead, the town and development company will have their attorneys draft an agreement that outlines specific conservation stipulations before the board makes a decision on whether to give the project the green light.

O’Brien Brothers has for

decades owned the property that sits immediately outside the town’s water and sewer service area. The development team came to the selectboard late last month with a petition to include part of the property in the town’s designated utility service area to allow it to build

more houses.

That could allow the land, which is currently included in the town’s rural zoning district, a higher density as outlined in the recently passed Act 47, or HOME Act. Although the town’s planning commission is currently looking at massive

regulatory reform, the current rural zoning district only allows for one unit per 5 acres. But under the new state law meant to spur housing development across the state, areas

See O’BRIEN BROTHERS on page 12

PHOTO BY AL FREY

At the Division I state track and field championships, CVU went 1-2-3-4 in the 1,500 meters. From left, Estella Laird was third, Alice Kredell came in first, Lydia Donahue was second and Audrey Neilson came in fourth.

Taking flight News from Pierson Library

Eric Rickstad author talk

Thursday, June 6, 7-8 p.m.

Join Shelburne-raised and New York Times bestselling author Eric Rickstad for a talk on his latest novel, “Lilith.” The electrifying novel is one-part crime thriller, one-part righteous revenge saga, all parts power diving headfirst into a volatile societal issue. Copies of the book will be for sale.

Queer excellence in cinema

Friday, June 7: 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Three drag queens journey across the outback in “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert,” a road adventure from director, Stephen Elliot. An early pop hit of queer world cinema, “Priscilla” is also an exemplar of Australian new wave cinema. Starring Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce and Terence Stamp.

World doll day

Saturday, June 8, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

The Green Mountain Doll Club and the Pierson Library celebrate World Doll Day. Littles may bring a favorite doll, teddy bear or action figure along and join us for crafts and stories, while doll admirers of all ages can explore an impressive exhibit of dolls from around the world. Drop in anytime.

Franco-American and Québécois song workshop

Saturday, June 8, 2-3 p.m.

Folks are invited to learn and sing traditional Franco-American and Québécois folk songs in French as well as enjoy traditional fiddle tunes in this workshop series from mother-daughter duo Michèle Choinière and Isabella Rottler.

In addition to singing in French, beginning and intermediate fiddle players are invited to learn and play traditional fiddle tunes. Choinière is an award-winning Smithsonian Folkways recording artist and Rottler is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist holding the folk music traditions she learned from her grandfather and mother.

This is the first of three upcoming classes. To register, call 802-985-5124.

Jack Mayer author talk

Monday, June 10, 7-8 p.m.

Defeated, humiliated, and in chaos, Germany after World War I was imper-

Tom Wadsworth of Shelburne captured this shot on Deer Run Lane of red-tailed hawk fledglings getting ready to fly.

iled by leftist revolution and right-wing violence. Jack Mayer recounts the origins of the Third Reich through the story of Ernst Werner Techow, a member of the para-military Free Corps and the murderous Organization C, who was recruited into a clandestine assassination network trying to bring down the fledgling Weimar democracy.

Techow participated in the 1922 murder of Foreign Minister Walther Rathenau, the highest-ranking Jew in the Weimar Republic. But an offer of forgiveness while on trial for his life set him on a complex journey of redemption. Author Jack Mayer based his novel, “Before the Court of Heaven” on this true tale. This presentation is through the Vermont Humanities Council.

Noontime Poetry Reading Society

Tuesdays, June 11,18 and 25, noon-1 p.m.

A group that cold reads whole poetry collections aloud half an hour at a time, getting their mouths a-moving and affecting the air with the rhythms of poets across time.

Kathleen Morgan author talk

Tuesday, June 11, 7-8 p.m.

Memoirist Kathleen Rose Morgan is many awesome things: a Shelburne mom, a Staten-Island native, the newest librarian here at the Pierson, a practitioner of energy medicine, a former heavy metal shredder with the prog band Treehouse and author

of the widely released “Seller of Secrets.” This memoir is a brave and deeply moving artwork casting brilliant light on the darkest shadows of secrecy.

Second Thursday lecture

Thursday, June 3, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Pamela Walker is an assistant professor of history at the University of Vermont. Her work examines motherhood, activism, benevolence and political consciousness in 1960s-era social movement networks. Her talk, “For Enduring Peace We Need Civil Rights,” will illuminate the overlooked role of pacifist Vermont women in the civil rights movement and the connections they forged across race, class and distance with rural Black women in the Mississippi Delta.

PHOTO BY TOM WADSWORTH

planning commission for the past year as it undertakes a massive rewrite to its regulations. The work, he said, has highlighted the needs of residents both locally and statewide.

Similarly, Ashooh knows a thing or two about the residents of Shelburne, since he has served for the better part of six years on the selectboard, serving three of those as board chair.

In two separate interviews, candidates narrowed down their three main areas of focus that the state currently faces: lack of housing, affordability and increasing costs associated with what many call the state’s overly complex education system.

But how the two have risen through the political ranks differs.

Ashooh’s anecdotes

For Ashooh, his localized political ventures began when he tried to build a trail system in his backyard in Shelburne nearly eight years ago.

“It all started with a trail,” he remembered, letting out a laugh.

Little did he know his ideas for the path would lead to an overly complicated debacle with local neighbors and the selectboard at a time already fraught with a war over a railroad salt shed and selectboard turnover. Some might say that seeing the zeal of his neighbors, although they were vehemently against his proposal, stirred a sort of civic engagement often found in towns like Shelburne.

“It was this really contentious period, so I always felt like I can do better,” he said, adding appreciation to the boards that came before him, but it was just a difficult period in Shelburne’s history.

Another difficult time, he added, was the onslaught and aftermath of a worldwide global pandemic that saw some of the town’s top priorities moved to the back burner.

“During the pandemic, the goal was just to keep everybody employed,” he said, adding that the years that followed stirred a massive push for economic growth in town. “There was a real strong appetite for change and getting things done.”

The beach house, which is set to open in the next few weeks,

Be sure to visit our advertisers and tell them: “I saw your name in the Shelburne News.”

was the first big ticket item that the selectboard ticked off its list at the time. Since then, the town has hired a new town manager, implemented new revenue streams like the local option tax and conducted a thorough employee audit on how to retain and attract staff.

But the cherry on top, Ashooh said, was the townwide community-building initiative that happened last summer, Shelburne Forward Together.

“I think I’ve played a part in these things,” he said. “I think I’ve played a part in this cohesion.”

Ashooh is a philosophy professor at the University of Vermont, which originally brought him to the state nearly 17 years ago. Although the critical thinking skills associated with philosophy have certainly helped over the years in local government, it’s really his time as a rugby coach for 12 years that taught him the most important trait in government: team building.

“I draw a lot from coaching,” he said. “How do you build an organization and a group of people to work together?”

With a focus on critical thinking and problem-solving skills displayed for nearly six years at the local level, Ashooh hopes Shelburne voters will trust him in that same way and send him to Montpelier.

Sweeney’s story

The 22-year Shelburne resident has a diverse background that makes his turn to the Legislature an easy next step. A natural-born communicator, most of Sweeney’s jobs have centered around people.

From working in the film industry and opening a nightclub in Burlington, to owning his own design-build company, Sweeney has spent most of his professional life managing and coordinating people and often complicated situations.

Sweeney has been heavily involved in the community in a variety of roles mostly because he wanted to remain as involved

in his kid’s lives as possible. His plunge into local government began 14 months ago when the planning commission began work to overhaul the town’s bylaws, which he said began to highlight the real needs of the state.

“I always would have loved to get into politics, but as you know, you don’t do it for money, and it’s tremendously time-consuming if you’re going to do it correctly,” he said, leaning against the side of his pickup truck. “I left the film business and 100-hour weeks because I wanted to be a dad, and my wife and I committed to do that.”

But as his children venture off on their own, Sweeney is ready to take on a new beat. Work as a legislator, he said, is in line with the work he has done his whole life and only amplifies the work he has grown to love on the planning commission.

“My whole career has been working together with people, whether it be the town of Burlington, when I had the nightclub, or when I was on movies shooting around the country,” he said. “It’s really about listening to people and hearing different things that people want to accomplish. Not everybody gets to have everything they want, but if you can bring people together, usually you can figure it out.”

Sweeney describes himself as a centrist-middle sort of guy, not one who sways too far to either side and most of his career has remained dedicated to making sure people are treated fairly.

“I’ve done a lot of work in Shelburne over the last 20 years,” he said. “I’ve gotten to know a lot of people and treat people really fairly and I think that goes a long way with anything, especially in politics, and especially now.”

When Sweeney moved to the Green Mountain State from New Jersey, he remembers at 7 years old looking up over the towering gold dome of the Capitol building, and now he hopes that Shelburne voters will take him back to that same place where his Vermont story began.

Why is Vermont’s State Budget $8,600,000,000? (8.6 Billion

Now that I got your attention... Come hear from a political reporter and candidates.

When: Monday June 10th at 6:00 PM

Where: Shelburne Town Offices in Meeting Room #1, 2nd Floor

Speakers:

• Rob Roper - Vermont Political Reporter speaks on the above topic.

• Shawn Sweeney - Dem Candidate for State House Rep District CH-7 VT

• Bruce Roy - Vermont GOP Candidate for Senate District CHI SE 1 FREE but limited seating. RSVP text to 802-999-7757, Susan Bowen. or email sbowengov@comcast.net

Celebrate National Garden Week in your community

DORIS VAN

MULLEN

CONTRIBUTOR

Garden Clubs across Vermont and the country will celebrate National Garden Week, June 2-8.

The celebration is more than just a celebration of plants and flowers, it is an ode to nature’s resiliency, beauty and the way gardening enriches lives.

“We delight in the joy of gardening and the crucial role it plays in our ecosystems”

Doris Van Mullen, president of the Federated Garden Clubs of Vermont, said. “This is a wonderful time to remember why we love gardening in the breathtaking beautiful landscapes of nature and our Vermont canvas. It is a shared passion connecting communities.”

The 16 garden clubs of the Federated Garden Clubs of Vermont take this opportunity to raise awareness of gardening, horticulture and to encourage

people to take part in healthy and productive outdoor activities to preserve the environment and nourish nature.

Diverse garden club activities include giving back to the community. Clubs around Vermont maintain town gardens, plan and implement plant sales, raise money for scholarships for students studying horticulture, arrange fresh flowers for Meals on Wheels, provide community educational programs, promote cultivation of seeds, donate vegetables to those in need and promote sustainable practices.

Some of the gardens across the state maintained by garden club members include:

• 19th century display garden at the Old Stone House in Newport, Four Seasons Garden Club.

• Hope Lodge, Ronald McDonald House and Vermont Garden Park, Burlington Garden Club.

• Planting and maintaining city-wise flower beds, Granite Center Garden Club.

• Sheldon Museum gardens, Middlebury Garden Club.

• Gifford Medical Center and maintaining Blue Star Marker flower beds, Randolph Garden Club.

Total reported incidents: 62

Traffic stops: 4

Warnings: 4

Tickets: 0

Arrests: 0

Medical emergencies: 26

Mental health incidents: 1

Suspicious incidents: 9

Directed patrols: 8

Citizen assists: 9

Motor vehicle complaints: 1

Car crash: 1

Animal problem: 0

Noise disturbance: 0

Unlawful Mischief: 0

Theft: 0

Harassment: 0

Shelburne News

Serving the community of Shelburne A publication of Vermont Community Newspaper Group LLC shelburnenews.com

Advertising Wendy Ewing wendy@shelburnenews.com (802) 985-3091 x12

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News Editor Tommy Gardner

Staff Writers

Aaron Calvin Liberty Darr

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Billing inquiries Leslie Lafountain leslie@stowereporter.com (802) 253-2101

Advertising submission deadline: Friday at 5 p.m. advertising@shelburnenews.com classifieds@shelburnenews.com

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• Downtown fountain, Iron Bridge memorial walkway and Plant It Pink Garden, Springfield Garden Club.

• 1879 schoolhouse in Perkinsville, Weathersfield Garden Club.

• Arlington’s Community Gardens and town hall, Arlington Garden Club.

• Cold Spring Park in Weston, Green Mountain Garden Club. Many club-hosted garden tours offer opportunities to exchange gardening tips and build a network of like-minded individuals.

• Planting flower boxes and hanging baskets at the Rutland Police Department, Chaffee Art Center, Rutland Free Library and Main Street Park Veterans Memorial Park, Rutland Garden Club.

Vandalism: 0

Fraud: 1

Alarms: 7

Pending investigations: 0

911 Hang-up calls: 4

May 27 at 1:41 p.m., officers mediated a dispute between two people at the Shelburne Shopping Park.

May 27 at 2:38 p.m., a lost passport at Horsfords Nursery was returned to its owner on Ethan Allen Highway.

May 28 at 9:52 p.m., police identified and released an erratic motorist on Ethan Allen High-

way and Church Hill Road. May 31 at 1:39 p.m., an employee at Splash Car Wash reported a male was causing a disturbance and refusing to leave. Police issued the individual a trespass order and escorted them off the property.

June 2 at 10:58 p.m., police mediated a family dispute on Partridge Way.

Note: Charges filed by police are subject to review by the Chittenden County State’s Attorney Office and can be amended or dropped.

State needs a public education system Vermonters support, value

Guest Perspective

Margaret MacLean

Over the past 14 years Vermont has enacted three sweeping school district consolidation laws. The overarching goals of Act 153, Act 156 and Act 46 were to be achieved “at a cost that parents, voters and taxpayers value.” Are consolidated districts delivering on this promise?

A big picture look says no. Consolidation has not saved taxpayer dollars and has eroded Vermonter’s support for public education.

An examination of state per pupil spending data from 2018 compared to 2024 shows that Act 46 consolidated districts have not delivered in terms of cost savings. In this time the percentage of consolidated districts doubled, and costs continued to increase. Today consolidated districts cost more per pupil PK-12 than single-town school districts.

Further, consolidation has eroded public confidence and engagement. At town meeting in March 2024 school budgets in town school districts passed at more than twice the rate of those in consolidated districts — 83 percent versus 38 percent.

No evaluation of consolidation has taken place. The Agency of Education was required to develop reports on Act 46, but the 2020 and 2021 reports have yet to materialize. We cannot afford to compound mistakes or overlook successes by moving forward without a comprehensive analysis. A moratorium on additional consolidation should be in place until a full independent evaluation is completed.

schools and communities throughout the state.

The Legislature has developed a commission to focus on the future of public education in Vermont. The last time Vermont did this well was in 1968 with the Vermont Design for Education. This document was developed from the bottom up, engaging

Education spending in Vermont needs to be addressed. But solutions in Montpelier are scarce, apart from calls to double down and “right size” the education system with additional consolidation. Higher per pupil spending and failed budgets in consolidated districts raise legitimate questions about this strategy. We need to take stock.

A new vision for the future of public education should also put the public front and center. The commission needs to emphasize engagement, and incorporate elements that are crucial to the success of public education, including:

• A focus on equity: Equity benefits society. Rather than pitting rural schools against their larger neighbors in a zero-sum battle, we will benefit from a vision that includes Vermonters from all backgrounds. An

See MACLEAN on page 6

Abortion is still unjustified murder

To the Editor:

It is hard to decide whether Walt Amses’ recent guest perspective sub-headline is offensive, dishonest or incorrect. (“Abortion debate: hot air meets hot water,” May 2, 2024)

He wrote: “The abortion debate has never been about babies pre-born, post-born or anywhere in between.”

Maybe we should just agree that it is equally offensive, dishonest and incorrect.

The abortion debate is entirely about pre-born babies, and their right to live. Ending the life of a post-born baby is still considered murder, but many fear that it is the natural progression of Vermont’s lateterm abortion laws and that we will soon be debating that point as well. I’m not sure who occupies the space between pre-born and post-born so I may have to concede that one to Amses.

It is true that many feel that women have the right to end the life of their unborn child at their convenience, as if they owned that human life. It is also true that some politicians will pander to any position, no matter how misguided, to get elected

The core problem is this: each abortion ends an innocent human life. This killing

Letters to the Editor

takes place on a massive scale — more than 60 million abortions worldwide each year. Abortion is the single leading cause of human death globally, greatly surpassing deaths by heart disease, diabetes, stroke and lung cancer combined. Those of us that object to that tragedy will never remain silent regardless of which politician or writer says differently.

John Childs Shelburne

Guest perspective widens divide

To the Editor:

While I recognize and support Walt Amses’ right to his opinion, I was offended by the way that opinion was expressed. (“Abortion debate: hot air meets hot water,” May 2, 2024)

It is very clear what he finds abhorrent: Donald Trump and his supporters, those who believe in life and those who are followers of Jesus. I consider myself a Christian, a moderate in political views and find conversations about abortion in this state to be pointless.

We have voted to add an abortion protection amendment to our Constitution. It would seem that we should end the abortion rights conversation. I hope you publish an opinion

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from someone who is as far on the fringe of the right as Amses is on the left, although I might find that offensive as well.

I prefer to be judged as an individual and not to be lumped into a group. We are certainly experiencing many challenges in our country, but these perspectives do not serve to bring people together but widen the divide.

Kathryn Roszman Shelburne

Bobcats, other wildlife in danger

To the Editor:

Every year, beginning on June 1, bears, bobcats, foxes and other wildlife are pursued by packs of hounds, potentially over miles of land, during Vermont’s hound “training” season. Since this is also the time of year when wildlife is tending to their young, this training may lead to orphaned animals, as well as vulnerable wildlife suffering serious injuries or even death during these pursuits.

According to Jennifer Lovett, a Protect Our Wildlife board member and conservation biologist, bobcat kits are born in early June, which makes the timing of this abusive activity even more egregious.

According to Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s regulations, a person with a hunting license may train a dog to hunt and pursue animals during these times:

• Bear: June 1 to Sept. 15, sunrise to sunset.

MACLEAN

continued from page 5

outcome that honors the Brigham decision with an equity focus will be better for all.

• Democracy matters: When he testified to the Senate during the creation of what became Act 46, Marty Strange, the policy director of the Rural School and Community Trust, proved prescient. Strange warned about a loss of public support for education as an outcome of consolidation.

Based on experiences across the U.S., Strange testified, “Shrinking the public role in school decision making means more failed budgets, more internecine arguing over where the money goes and whose school gets closed by which voters and reduced public support for public education.”

• Raccoon: June 1 through the day before the opening day of raccoon hunting season, any time of day or night.

• Fox and bobcat: June 1 to March 15, except during regular deer season.

• Coyotes: June 1 to Sept. 15. This activity is allowed on both private and public lands, and while posting your property does not necessarily keep uncontrolled hounds off, it may offer you legal protection.

It is a disgrace that these animals aren’t even allowed time to raise their young without being harassed and put in harm’s way. When the wild animal cannot escape the attacking hounds, fights often ensue, placing both the hounds and the wild animals in danger.

Hounding has been referred to as a form of legalized animal fighting. For some species that are hunted, there are no limits on the number of hounds that may be used, placing the wild animal at an even greater disadvantage. Dogs that are used by hounders include large, tenacious breeds like foxhounds, Plott hounds and coonhounds. There have been recent legislative efforts to ban certain forms of hounding arising from animal welfare and public safety concerns, and violations of landowner rights. For more information on hounding and what your rights are visit protectourwildlifevt.org.

Brenna Galdenzi

Protect Our Wildlife Stowe

children front and center while striving for affordability. Dollars spent with a direct impact on learning should be prioritized over increasingly centralized bureaucracy. Community schools for our earliest learners are a key part of the vision; few Vermonters would say that our younger children should be traveling two hours a day on a school bus.

However, sensible changes can take place at the middle and high school level, and the time might be right to revamp secondary and technical education. Additionally, the commission can identify the worthy, but non-education-related services provided within our education system and find funding for them outside of the property tax.

Voters’ ability to take part in community-scale school budget deliberations at town meetings may be a key element to local budgets receiving stronger voter support than vast multi-school consolidated budgets.

• Rural voices: Any vision for a thriving Vermont education system must work in rural communities as well as in more densely populated areas. It should be shaped and supported by communities, not imposed upon them.

Schools are the beating heart of rural communities and an essential foundation for our youngest children. The commission must fully understand the links between schools and community development and examine what happens in a town when its school closes.

• Best educational practices at a cost Vermonters can afford: A vision for the future of Vermont education needs to keep

Vermont can do better. The commission will have an opportunity to study education systems internationally. Faced with many of our same issues, Scandinavia, New Zealand and other places have been decentralizing educational governance to the school and community level since the 1990s. How can these school systems inform our vision?

The commission needs to develop a vision that is grounded in what works for our children, that builds on our communities’ strengths and brings Vermonters together — a vision we collectively develop at a cost that hardworking Vermonters can afford.

Margaret MacLean has been an educator for 50 years, working as a teacher, school principal and consultant both in Vermont, the United States and internationally. She lives in Peacham.

Washington, Grand Isle,and Addison Counties, add $500

Susan DuBrul

Susan DuBrul, a force of nature known for her fiery spirit and unwavering devotion to family, died peacefully on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. She was 82.

Born Susan Jane Frost in Montpelier, she grew up alongside her brother Jim Frost and graduated from Montpelier High School in 1960. Her summers were spent waterskiing at Groton Pond and enjoying time with her family.

While in high school, Susan became one of Vermont’s Junior Miss contestant winners. Susan went on to graduate from Champlain College where she received her associate’s degree. After college, she married Jack DuBrul and they made Shelburne their home where they built a family business and raised two boys.

Susan was not one for convention. She lived life on her own terms, squeezing every drop of joy and adventure from it. Her heart belonged to Marco Island, Fla., where she reveled in the sunshine, turquoise waters and countless memories she made there with the greatest of friends.

But Susan’s greatest love was her family. Fiercely protective and endlessly supportive, she was the glue that held them together. Her laugh, as bright as the Florida sun, echoed through countless family gatherings, each one a testament to the love that was her legacy. Susan was not afraid of having a good time. She embraced every experi-

ence with gusto, from spontaneous adventures to cherished traditions. Her zest for life was contagious, inspiring everyone around her to chase their dreams and savor the present moment.

While Susan’s absence leaves a void, her spirit lives on in the hearts of her loved ones. They will carry the torch of her laughter, her strength and her unwavering love for life, forever cherishing the memories they made together both here in Vermont and the sun of Marco Island.

Susan was predeceased by her father, Jack Frost and mother, Theta (McDowell); brother-in-law, David DuBrul; and sister-in-law, Louise DuBrul.

Susan is survived by her husband Jack DuBrul of Shelburne. She is remembered by her brother Jim and his wife, Kay of Leesburg, Fla., and their son, Mark Frost and wife, Sabine of Plainfield; brotherin-law, Peter DuBrul of Bethlehem,

Israel; and nephews, Jack DuBrul of Gainesville, Va., and his brother, David DuBrul of Florida.

Susan leaves behind her beloved children, Steele and his wife, Amy of Shelburne, Kyle of South Burlington; John and his wife, Kim of Shelburne and Dawn Aiken of South Burlington; and eight grandchildren whom she loved endlessly, Steele II, Paige, Olivia, Christian, Cale, Lola, Rowan and Joe Joe DuBrul.

In lieu of flowers, please honor Susan’s love for children by donating to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Address your donations to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105 (stjude.org).

Sarah Francisco

A celebration of life for Sarah Olivia Francisco will be held on Sunday, June 2, 2024, at 11 a.m. at Champlain Valley Union High

School, 369 CVU Road, in Hinesburg.

All family, friends, students, and families are welcome.

Sarah, an incredible wife, loving mother, sister, daughter, friend, teacher and so much more, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, April

6, 2024, at her family’s home in Williston. She was 49.

Sarah’s tireless dedication to speech therapy yielded two degrees and over the last two decades allowed her to touch the lives of countless students and families at the schools where she worked. When she started working at CVU, she became much more than a speech therapist. She befriended students and teachers alike, regardless of their role or whether they were one of her own students.

Eleanor L. Zinke

Eleanor Lynn Zinke of Vergennes died Thursday, May 9, 2024, on a beautiful Vermont spring afternoon, as quietly and calmly as

Susan DuBrul

Sarah Francisco

Eleanor L. Zinke

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

Post Memorial Day weekend, some might argue that the sunny season is officially here, but for Shelburnites, summer doesn’t officially begin until the Back to the Beach kicks off.

And this year will be special.

The event celebrates its 25th year; it’s been 70th years since the beach was gifted to the town; there’ll be a ribbon cutting for a new beach house; and it is the official first day of summer. As Betsy Cieplicki, the town’s recreation director, said, “Everything is coming together.”

Back to the Beach takes place Thursday, June 20, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Residents are encouraged to head to the beach for live music and other kid-centered entertainment, potluck style food offerings, sheet cakes, and that official ribbon cutting to unveil a new — and long awaited — beach house. Better yet, it is free for Shelburne residents. Like years past, the town

will have burgers and hot dogs on hand but organizers ask that those attending bring a dish to pass. To cut down on waste, consider bringing your own cutlery.

Since parking will be limited, Cieplicki is urging residents to carpool and this year the event will have its own shuttle, bringing residents from the village to the beach and back every 15 minutes.

“You can pick it up, get a ride down there, and then get a ride back later,” Cieplicki said.

The beach house has been a work in progress since voters approved spending $350,000 to replace the old structure in 2022. The old concrete block bathhouse was built by volunteers in 1956, just two years after the stretch of beach now owned by the town was gifted by Dunbar and Electra Bostwick in 1954.

The additional funds for the new building came from American Rescue Plan Act dollars and fundraising from the recreation committee.

The members of the recreation

committee are also those who started the beach day celebration more than two decades ago. Like many of traditions in town, it has lived on through the dedicated volunteers of the town for a quarter of a century.

“It all started with them,” Cieplicki said. “Over the years it’s not always the same but the recreation committee cooks up the food and serves everyone and that’s the one part that hasn’t changed. They put on the event and are happy to share the celebration with everyone.”

But more than a celebration for the recreation committee, it is a celebration of Shelburne and the special traditions that shape the community, Cieplicki said.

This year, she said, the celebration is even more special as the town celebrates a large infrastructure improvement coming to fruition.

“It’s just a fun way for people to get together and see people they haven’t seen and get out and enjoy,” she said.

PHOTOS BY BETSY CIEPLICKI

Hundreds of Shelburne residents gather at Shelburne Beach for the town’s annual summer kick-off event.

PHOTO BY LEE KROHN

Community Notes

Candidates, political analyst talk Vermont spending

Why is Vermont’s budget $8.6 billion?

On Monday, June 10, at 6 p.m. in the Shelburne Town Offices, find out why some of your neighbors may need to get a second or third job.

Speakers will be Rob Roper, a Vermont political analyst; Shawn Sweeney, a Democratic candidate for the Chittenden-7 House district; and Bruce Roy, a Republican candidate for the Chittenden Southeast Senate district.

Space is limited; RSVP to 802-999-7757, Susan Bowen, or email sbowengov@comcast.net.

Sign up now for Shelburne grab and go meal

Age Well and St. Catherine’s of Siena Parish in Shelburne are teaming up to provide a meal to go for anyone age 60 and older on Tuesday, June 11.

Meals will be available for pick up in the parking lot at 72 Church St. from 11 a.m. until noon and are

OBITUARIES

continued from page 7

she lived her life.

Born in Connecticut on Jan. 6, 1942, Lynn moved with her family to South Florida when she was 8. As an adult, Lynn lived several places, including stints in Arizona and Bermuda, before heeding her cousins’ advice and settling in the hill country of northern Vermont in the early 1970s with her former husband and two children.

Lynn’s early career in administration and operations took her from Rossignol and Garmont to Garden Way and Harrowsmith, as well as opening and managing Chapters Bookstore and Cafe in Shelburne.

After her children were grown and moved into their careers, Lynn took the opportunity to buy a one-way around the world plane ticket, finally indulging her wanderlust. One of her favorite stops was an extended visit in Hong Kong, which allowed her to travel solo deep into China, an experience she cherished. The conclusion of her trip resulted in a two-year stay in Boston, where she worked at the Women’s Educational and Industrial Union before returning to Vermont.

As Lynn settled back in, she found a new home base in a lovely cottage, perfectly sized for her, on the lake outside Vergennes. Lynn then worked a series of retail jobs, often with friends, primarily in Shelburne village. This allowed her to indulge her passion for meeting new people and more importantly,

available for anyone 60 or older. Suggested donation is $5.

The menu is meatloaf with gravy, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, wheat bread with butter, apple crisp with topping and milk.

To order a meal contact Kathleen at agewellstcath@gmail.com or 802-503-1107. Deadline to order is Wednesday, June 5. If this is a first-time order, provide your name, address, phone number and date of birth.

Learn about restaurant tickets to dine at participating restaurants at agewellvt.org.

Run, walk or jiggety-fog for McClure Miller

Join the University of Vermont Health Network Home Health & Hospice for its annual fundraiser on Saturday, June 8, 9 a.m., at Malletts Bay School in Colchester.

The Jiggety Jog is a 5K for all ages and abilities, supporting hospice care at McClure Miller Respite House. Day-of registration is at 8 a.m.

Sign up at uvmhomehealth.org/ run.

Videos on view

South Burlington resident John Killacky’s videos have been screened worldwide at festivals, galleries, museums, hospitals and universities, and broadcast on Vermont Public and nationally on PBS. On Thursday, June 13, as part of “PechaKucha Night” of visual storytelling in Flynn Space in Burlington, he shares 20 stills taken from his AIDS-related videos and reads diary entries. On Saturday, June 15, he presents a video salon, “Eulogizing the Body,” at Bryan Memorial Gallery in Jeffersonville featuring works dealing with AIDS, disability, loss and chronic pain. Another of his videos is included in the Montgomery Center for the Arts’ exhibition, “Bloom: The Nature of Art,” opening Sunday, June 16 in Montgomery.

helping them.

Whether it was helping a customer decide on the perfect wedding gift, bringing a grieving friend a Harrington ham and a bottle of wine or helping an old friend, as she aged, with day-to-day tasks, one of Lynn’s greatest strengths was her capacity to help others in ways large and small.

Lynn’s greatest pride was her children, Meghan (Andrew) and Senan, whom she supported and encouraged in all their endeavors. It brought her no small measure of joy to have her intrepid children ultimately return to their home state, where she was able to see them regularly and involve herself in their lives.

In addition to her children, Lynn is survived by her sisters, Gay (Mike) Gallagher, Diane Cooper and Karen (Irv) Rose; cousin, Blair (Bob) Hall and their children; and several nieces, nephews and extended family.

Special thanks go to Kasie, Tim, Aria and Sebastian for their excellent care of Lynn during her final years.

Lynn loved the arts in all forms: literature, fine arts, music, dance, performing arts. In lieu of flowers, if you are so moved, a donation in Lynn’s name to your local library, museum, performing arts center or other arts foundation would be appreciated. A memorial celebration may be planned later.

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COURTESY PHOTO

Girls’ track and field wins first-ever state title

Dauerman wins singles title in straight sets

LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

For over 20 years, Champlain Valley has had the best female distance runners in the state. But it has taken them some time to translate that success to track and field.

On Saturday, the Redhawks put it all together to capture the Division I girls’ track and field state championship — the program’s first in 49 years.

Buoyed by dominance in the 1,500-meter and 3,000-meter races, Champlain Valley earned 112 points to best the secondplace finisher and last year’s winner, Essex (84). Burlington captured third with 50 points.

the Redhawks, while Kate Kogut finished sixth in the 100-meter dash.

Kredell continued her strong performance in the 800-meter race, coming in third. Neilson followed in fourth and Noe Jenni finished in sixth.

In the field events, Harper Danforth set the tone with a firstplace finish in the javelin throw, her third individual state title in the event in four years.

“She played really well in the big points and just outlasted an all-class and supertalented Julia Biedermann.”

— Coach Dave Lisle

In the 1,500, CVU went 1-2-3-4. Alice Kredell came in first, Lydia Donahue came in second, Estella Laird finished third and Audrey Neilson was fourth.

The dominance continued in the 3,000, with Donahue taking the top spot. Laird came in third, Charlotte Crum was fourth, Claire Kim came in fifth and Annalise Wood finished in sixth place.

In the 400-meter race, Mahoune Felix came in first to further pace

Kogut came in second place in pole vault and Zoe Mui-Jenkins tied for fourth in the same event.

Nora Cullen came in third in high jump and Lilyanna Mittelstadt was fifth in the long jump.

The D-I track and field title comes after the CVU girls also captured the indoor track and field championship this winter, the program’s first indoor state title. Efforts to reach track and field coaches were unsuccessful.

Dauerman wins individual tennis title

Champlain Valley sophomore

See TRACK AND FIELD on page 11

SPORTS

Champlain Valley spring sports teams finish regular season

LAURE READ CORRESPONDENT

Boys’ Ultimate

Champlain Valley 15, St. Johnsbury 1: The boys Ultimate team went undefeated in the regular season.

The Redhawks beat St. Johnsbury, 15-1, on Friday, May 31, to wrap up the unbeaten streak.

CVU headed into the playoffs with an 11-0 record.

Softball

St. Johnsbury 13, Champlain Valley 6: Tegan Scruggs had a double, home run and two RBIs but it was not enough as Champlain Valley fell to St. Johnsbury on Saturday.

Mackenzie Yandow took the loss for the Redhawks, giving up nine runs, two earned. Nina Zimakas went 2-for-3 with an RBI and Amber Reagan drove in two runs on two hits.

streak after beating Montpelier on Friday.

Zoey McNabb had five goals for the Redhawks. Ruby Opton (three assists), Leo Sunderland and Navaeh Parrish each tallied twice, and Grace Thompson added five assists.

CVU finished the regular season at 10-2.

Boys’ Ultimate Champlain Valley 15, St. Johnsbury 1: The boys Ultimate team went undefeated in the regular season.

Girls’ lacrosse

CVU wrapped up the regular season with a 5-11 record.

Baseball

Champlain Valley 16, Middlebury 4: Champlain Valley wrapped up the regular season with a win over Middlebury on Saturday, June 1.

Sophie Madden had three goals and two assists for the Redhawks, who have a 13-2 record heading into the postseason. Marlie Cartwright added a hat trick and Kate Boehmcke chipped in two goals and an assist.

Rose Bunting also tallied twice for CVU, while Lulu Sarardos, Stella Dooley, Emerson Rice and McKenzie Love each scored. Clare Stackpole-McGrath and Morgan Keach combined to make five saves.

St. Johnsbury 3, Champlain Valley 0: The team dropped its third game in a row, falling to St. Johnsbury Saturday.

Elise Berger took the loss for the Redhawks, allowing three runs on three hits in four innings of work. Riley McDade and Declan Cummings each went 2-for-3 at the plate for CVU.

CVU finished the regular season with a 12-4 record.

Girls’ Ultimate

Champlain Valley 13, Montpelier 3: The girls finished the season on a three-game winning

The Redhawks beat St. Johnsbury, 15-1, on Friday to wrap up the unbeaten streak.

CVU heads into the playoffs with an 11-0 record.

Boys’ lacrosse

Champlain Valley 14, Essex 3: Matias Williams had five goals and one assist to pace Champlain Valley in a win over Middlebury on Friday to finish the regular season.

Peter Gilliam added two goals and one assist for the Redhawks, while Connor Malaney chipped in two. Will Kearney stopped 12 shots in goal.

CVU finished the regular season with a 14-1 record.

PHOTO BY AL FREY

Amber Reagan smacks the ball during a 17-3 loss to South Burlington May 28 in 5 innings. Reagan went 3-for-4 and had 3 RBIs.

Ultimate heads into postseason unbeaten

LAUREN READ

CORRESPONDENT

Baseball Division I playdowns

Tuesday, June 4, at 4:30 p.m.

No. 12 Rice (5-11) at No. 3 Champlain Valley (12-4)

After dropping the final three games of the regular season, the Champlain Valley baseball team will need to turn it around quick as it takes on No. 12 Rice in the Division I playdowns on Tuesday after the newspaper went to press.

The Redhawks beat the Green Knights twice in the regular season and will need to avoid an upset to advance to the quarterfinals.

If CVU wins, it will face the winner of No. 6 St. Johnsbury vs. No. 1 Brattleboro in the quarterfinals Friday, June 7. One of the Redhawks’ four losses came at the hands of St. Johnsbury.

Softball Division I playdowns

Tuesday, June 4 at 4:30 p.m.

No. 9 Champlain Valley (5-11) at No. 8 North Country (8-8)

The softball team looked to pull off a minor upset Tuesday (after presstime) against North Country in the softball playdowns. If CVU wins, it would advance to the quarterfinals and a matchup with No. 1 BFA-St. Albans on Friday.

The Comets defeated CVU 17-0 in their only game during the regular season.

Boys’ lacrosse Division I quarterfinals

Friday, June 7 at 4:30 p.m.

No. 1 Champlain Valley (14-1) vs TBA

The Champlain Valley boys’ lacrosse team will keep a close eye on Tuesday’s Division I playdown matchups as it awaits its quarterfinal opponent.

The Redhawks, who earned the No. 1 seed in the postseason with a 14-1 record, will take on the winner of No. 8 Mount Mansfield and No. 9 Essex on Friday. CVU beat Essex in two games during the regular season and downed MMU in their only meeting. CVU wants to return to the D-I final after

TRACK AND FIELD

continued from page 10

Anna Dauerman made a splash in the individual girls’ tennis tournament, beating Stowe’s Julia Biedermann in three sets to win the individual state title.

“It was absolutely a goal that Anna made for herself at the beginning of the season, to win individuals, CVU coach Dave Lisle said. “She played incredibly well and made it happen. She played really well in the big points and just outlasted an all-class and super-talented Julia Biedermann.”

Dauerman had to recover from an early 2-6 loss in the first set. But the Redhawk sophomore came up with a 6-3 win in the second set and then followed it up with 10-4 victory in the third set tiebreak to capture the title.

its nine-year run as state champions was stopped last year in the semifinals. CVU will have to get past last year’s D-I title holders, South Burlington, which is a possible semifinal opponent.

Girls’ lacrosse Division I quarterfinals

Saturday, June 8, at 11 a.m.

No. 2 Champlain Valley (13-2) vs. TBA

After coming oh-so-close to the program’s first Division I state title since 2002 — they lost by one goal in overtime — the Champlain Valley girls’ lacrosse team is looking to take the next step this season.

They will face the winner of No. 7 BFA-St. Albans and No. 10 Brattleboro in the quarterfinals on Saturday. CVU beat BFA twice but did not see Brattleboro in the regular season.

Lurking in the bracket are No. 1 Essex and No. 4 South Burlington, the only two teams to beat CVU this season. Those two teams are likely to square off in the semifinals, leaving them as a possible matchup in the final if the Redhawks advance that far.

Girls’ tennis Division I quarterfinals

Friday, June 7, at 3:30 p.m.

No. 1 Champlain Valley (13-1) vs. TBA

The team is fresh of a regular season that earned it the No. 1 seed. Then they watched CVU’s Anna Dauermann win the individual singles title.

Now, the Redhawks have their sights set on the postseason. CVU will take on the winner of No. 8 Brattleboro and No. 9 Essex, who played on Tuesday after press in the playdowns, in the quarterfinals on Friday.

The Redhawks played Essex twice this year, winning the 6-1 and 7-0. The Colonels are an unknown but only have two wins so far this season.

Boys’ Ultimate Division I quarterfinals

Saturday, June 8, at 11 a.m.

Champlain Valley advanced to the Ultimate state championship last season but ultimately fell just short of winning the title.

CVU finished the regular season with a 10-0 record and the top seed in the playoffs. The Redhawks have earned a bye to the

quarterfinals where they await the winner of No. 8 Milton and No. 9 Essex, who met in the playdowns on Wednesday, June 5.

The Redhawks met both teams just once in the regular season and won both matchups, beating Milton 15-7 and Essex 15-5.

Girls’ Ultimate Division I semifinals

Wednesday, June 12, at 4 p.m.

The girls Ultimate team lost just two games this season, earning a 10-2 record and the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.

That was good enough to earn the Redhawks a bye into the semifinal round where they will face the winner of No. 3 Milton and No. 6 Mount Mansfield, who will

play in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, June 10.

CVU beat both Milton and MMU twice in the regular season. The wins over the Cougars came in the first weeks of the season, while the victories over the Yellowjackets were spread out.

If the Redhawks can advance past next week’s semifinal, they will likely face a matchup with top seed Burlington, the only team to beat them so far this season.

Boys’ tennis Division I playdowns

“She made adjustments that helped,” Lisle said of the comeback effort. “The truth is, Anna is incredibly mentally tough. She just doesn’t crack under pressure.”

Dauerman will now move on to the team title chase as Champlain Valley enters the playoffs with the top seed in the D-I bracket. Her experience against Biedermann could be key, as a rematch could be looming in the final against No. 2 Stowe.

“CVU is a pretty confident team,” Lisle said. “Anna has absolutely helped raise that level of confidence even more with that huge win.”

CVU opens the postseason with a quarterfinal matchup on Friday, June 7, against either No. 8 Brattleboro or No. 9 Essex.

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SHELBURNE

QUARTERLY WATER & SEWER PAYMENT

Due Monday, June 17, 2024

Payments must be RECEIVED or POSTMARKED by MIDNIGHT, June 17, 2024.

Late payments are subject to penalty and interest. Payments can be left in lock box at Police Department Dispatch until Midnight, June 17, 2024.

PLEASE NOTE: The Police Department cannot provide any information regarding accounts or receipts for payments.

If any questions please call 985-5120 Office hours for payment in person are Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Police Department is open 24/7

NOTICE SHELBURNE SELECTBOARD

Pursuant to the Charter for the Town of Shelburne, the Shelburne Selectboard will hold public hearings on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 as a part of its regular meeting that begins at 7:00 P.M. via Zoom to consider adopting amendments to the Town’s Wastewater Allocation Ordinance.

To participate in the hearing, the Zoom details follow: Join SELECTBOARD Zoom Meeting TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 7:00 P.M.

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81288336683?pwd=b0l3UGJ4NXM1W Hd0SjdubkgyL0RsUT09

Meeting ID: 812 8833 6683 Passcode: 1763

The proposed ordinances are available for review in the Shelburne Town Manager’s Office at 5420 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, Vermont 05482 and on the Town’s website at www. shelburnevt.org. Please contact the Town Manager with any questions at 802.985.5111 or mlawless@shelburnevt.org.

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Deliver The Other Paper of South Burlington, Shelburne News and The Citizen to vendors around Chittenden County.

Thursday afternoons and/or Friday mornings. Hourly wage plus mileage.

Send a letter of interest to bryan@newsandcitizen.com or call (802) 253-2101.

Roadside Tree Removal Work – Spring 2024

Removal of roadside ash trees will next occur along the following roads: Athletic Drive, Chesapeake Drive, Cynosure Drive, Farmstead Drive, Fletcher Lane, Gardenside Lane, Harvest Lane, LaPlatte Circle, Lower Webster Road, Maplewood Drive, Tracy Lane, and a portion of Harbor Road between Athletic Drive and School Street -- date has not yet been confirmed but it will likely occur June 17, 18, or 19.

Once date is confirmed, notice will be posted on Front Porch Forum and the Shelburne News so that everyone can plan accordingly.

The ash trees have been marked for removal - you may have noticed red paint marks — so you should be able to determine if there is a tree or trees along your property line.

The terms of the contract include the removal of wood and chips and the contractor is set up to dispose of this material safely and responsibly.

If any affected landowners would like to keep the wood +/or chips generated by the trees along their property line, please follow the instructions below. The material will only be available while the contractor is doing the removal work.

Email kluster@shelburnevt.org directly with all of the following information— if something is omitted, the request will not be considered: 1) your name; 2) your specific address along the removal route (feel free to include any details that will clarify location); 3) specific instructions about where to best dump the material on your property (for obvious reasons, this needs to be a reasonable request and the location should be convenient to the roadside); 4) best phone number to reach you during a weekday; and 5) do you want wood? or chips? or both? — the size of the trees along your property line dictate which will be produced and how much of each.

If you want more information about this project or about any aspect of the Shelburne Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Management Plan, please visit the Shelburne Tree Committee webpage on the Town website.

The plan is to open up ash wood availability to local artisans & craftspersons with the next cut -- please respond to this email with your interest if you would like to be put on a list for that contact.

O’BRIEN BROTHERS continued from page 1

serviced by water and sewer can be built at a much higher density of five dwellings per acre.

The parcel is separated by Thomas Road into two tracts — a 110-acre tract on the north side of the road and another 65.5 acres to the south. The northern parcel sits at the edge of the current area serviced by water and sewer infrastructure, located on the south side of Irish Hill Road, between Spear Street and Thomas Road.

The company argues that although the northern portion of the property is not technically considered part of the town’s service area, its proximity to that infrastructure — including an 8-foot sewer line and manhole located on the property and a water main connection located less than 50 feet away on Irish Hill Road — should allow it to be.

But Shelburne’s Selectboard still had concerns last week surrounding what sort of precedent this could set for future property owners looking to hook up to municipal water and sewer from outside the service area.

More important, board members say, is whether the town is technically forced by state legislation to accept it?

The O’Brien Brothers development team presented a more detailed look at its plans this week. While no concrete proposals have been made, the development would fall in line with the design standards they’ve employed at their other properties in Chittenden County. Most notable is the 155-home development in South Burlington at the O’Brien Farm, which is touted as the first 100 percent carbon-free, climate-resilient, microgrid community in the state, and one of the first of its kind in the country.

“Over the past six or seven years at O’Brien Brothers, we’re really proud of the evolution of this,” Andrew Gill, director of development with the company, said. “We started meeting the energy codes, and then we started trying to exceed the energy codes, and then we started to go further and further.”

The company further argues that with the tract of land’s one-and-ahalf-mile proximity to the village,

See O’BRIEN BROTHERS on page 13

GARAGE SALE MULTI-FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD GARAGE SALE: Kids toys, baby gear, furniture, electronics, stretched canvases, and more! Davis Park neighborhood (Davis, Fletcher, Stokes, Tracy, and Heritage). June 8, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

building this property to meet the town’s dire housing and affordable housing needs would be a logical development extension, while avoiding unnecessary sprawl with one unit per five acres.

In addition to mixed-use, single-family and affordable residential development, the company is proposing to include pocket parks, conserved land and paths and sidewalks to increase the walkability and connectedness of the areas immediately surrounding the village center.

In recent analysis of the property, the development team outlined that based on previously assessed forest and habitat blocks, roughly 66 percent of the property would be conserved, leaving only about 34 percent with development capability.

“This would create an off-road path connection all the way from the Shelburne Supermarket through the LaPlatte River trails up Irish Hill Road, through this parcel and into a new conservation area by the LaPlatte River and the Zen Center,” Gill said. “So, it’s conceivable that you could walk for miles with your dogs or with your family through this area. It is really creating an interconnected space.”

With a project of this size and scale — roughly around 325 units — developers said realistically it would be completed in phases over the next seven to eight years, but the first step is to get the service area designation.

But several of the selectboard members and residents argued this could open up “Pandora’s box” in

the future with other developers and developments.

For selectboard member Chunka Mui, the facts are simple: Since the water infrastructure is not directly on the property, it does not fall in line with the interpretation of the HOME Act.

“I lean really strongly against this application based upon the interpretation of the HOME Act,” he said. “I think that you have a unique situation where there’s a sewer main in your property, but I would be really troubled by a precedent-setting application that says (water) across the street is good enough.”

Instead, he said, the board should be in favor because the project satisfies the three objectives outlined in the townwide community building exercise, Shelburne Forward Together: increased affordable housing, conservation and open space and bike and pedestrian infrastructure.

While some residents urged the board to mull over the decision to ensure conservation remains a top priority, one resident and distant family member of those who founded this development company, Maggie O’Brien, argued differently.

“I am one of the family members, but I also am a resident of Shelburne and a neighboring parcel, and the farmer that has farmed these fields for 25 years,” she said, adding that this develop ment would directly destroy the field she currently hays and uses as feed for her livestock. “We are constantly seeing farms go out of

Shelburne, but it’s something to be said that this is one of the last farms that is centrally located.”

Resident Jim Dowling countered, saying this is exactly the type of development he would like to see in Shelburne’s future as he and his wife, as empty nesters, consider their next move.

After a nearly two-hour-long discussion with the public, lawyers, developers and board members, the board chose to first craft a memorandum of understanding that ensures the southern 65-acre portion of the property closest to the LaPlatte River area remains untouched and dedicated to conservation.

“We all love to just bicker and argue and disagree, but could

to these guys a couple times, but I also don’t want to be snookered or hoodwinked.”

The development company is expected back before the selectboard in June with a finalized memorandum of agreement.

RABIES BAIT

“I would love to actually be on board with this as a board” Mike

Ashooh, board chair, said. “I agree with this idea that having some legality imposed on us, and that we’re going to have to bend and accept it, doesn’t make me feel good. What makes me feel good, is here’s a great project that hits all the buttons, let’s write it out and say we’re good to go.”

The week-long bait drop is a cooperative effort between Vermont and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services to stop the spread of the potentially fatal disease.

The Town of Shelburne Rescue Department has identified the need to change its license level from Advanced EMT to Paramedic to operate in the Town of Shelburne. This agency proposes to begin operation at the new license level on June 17, 2024 within the geographic boundaries of the Town of Shelburne. In accordance with 24 V.S.A. Emergency Medical Services Statute, public comments are invited to be received by the department by June 14, 2024.

Address comments: Vermont Department of Health Office of Public Health Preparedness and EMS 280 State Drive Waterbury, VT 05671-8330

Rabies is a deadly viral disease of the brain that infects mammals. It is most often seen in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats, but unvaccinated pets and livestock can also get rabies.The virus is spread through the bite of an infected animal or contact with its

continued from page 2 saliva. ways fatal treatment 100 percent a person So far have tested those have According animals mal behavior, an animal it. People animals

PHOTO BY MAGGIE O’BRIEN